A Writing (or Art) Prompt
Step outside and observe all five of your senses—smell, see, listen, touch, and taste. This is a mindful exercise! Try spending a minute or two thinking about each sense. Once you have done this, write or draw about your five senses.
Directions
- Step outside.
- Observe your five senses.
- What do you smell?
- What do you see?
- What do you feel?
- What do you hear?
- What do you taste?
- Write about it!
- Write a poem.
- Write a journal entry.
- Write one word that describes each sense.
- Make a piece of art!
- Draw a picture.
- Paint a picture.
- Use sidewalk chalk to draw a picture.
Here is an example by me, Annie!
Keeping a journal is a powerful mental health tool. The American Psychiatric Association confirms that “journaling can provide general wellness and self-improvement benefits, such as making you more self-aware, boosting creativity and helping you build better habits. Journaling can help you better understand your feelings and emotions and help you manage stress. Writing about things that have frustrated or upset you can help you to let go of some of the stress and gain perspective.”
Additional Resources
- Can You Boost Your Mental Health by Keeping a Journal?
- Journaling for Mental Health
- 5 Powerful Health Benefits of Journaling
Annie Johnson– Annie is a Program Assistant at Girl Scouts River Valleys. She graduated from the College of Saint Benedict with a BA in Environmental Studies and Psychology, with a concentration in Wilderness Therapy. She loves going on adventures outside, especially if it involves a canoe. Annie was a Girl Scout all the way from kindergarten through high school. She is grateful for the opportunity to work for Girl Scouts and give back in any way she can.
Shannon Giere– Shannon is the Camp Program Coordinator at Girl Scouts River Valleys during the school year and directs Camp Northwoods in the summer. She started working at Girl Scouts River Valleys in 2009 as a seasonal camp staff member, she loved it so much that she never wanted to leave—so she didn’t! Shannon grew up in the Twin Cities area and has been a Girl Scout since first grade. In her free time, she loves being outside and exploring the outdoors with her friends and family or reading a good book.